Kenya Reaffirms Maritime Safety, Green Shipping and Sector Growth Priorities for 2026

The State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs has outlined key achievements recorded in 2025 and set out ambitious priorities for 2026, reaffirming Kenya’s commitment to strengthening maritime safety, sustainability, and economic growth across its ocean and inland water systems.
In a statement released by Principal Secretary Aden A. Millah, the government highlighted progress in maritime governance, inland waters development, marine pollution preparedness, and human capital growth in the blue economy.
The PS noted that maritime safety remains the backbone of the State Department’s mandate. Multi-agency collaboration among the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), Kenya Coast Guard Service (KCGS), Kenya Navy, and county governments has been enhanced through joint search-and-rescue drills and operational coordination.
Construction of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Lake Victoria is underway and is expected to significantly improve emergency response, communication, and incident reporting for inland waters once completed.
The department also intensified oil spill preparedness exercises and aligned national contingency plans with international environmental conventions to reinforce Kenya’s marine pollution response capacity.
Significant progress was made in strengthening regional maritime offices. Mapping and needs assessments were carried out in Kisumu, Lamu, Turkana, and Baringo, leading to the establishment of fully functional offices to support vessel inspection, safety oversight, and community engagement.
Boat operators, beach management units, and county officials have been sensitized on licensing, safety compliance, and accident prevention as part of ongoing public awareness campaigns.
The PS reported notable milestones under the Lake Victoria Maritime Transport and Investment Project, focusing on safer vessels, improved landing sites, and enhanced water transport efficiency.
Preparatory work also advanced under the Lake Turkana Maritime Infrastructure Project, aimed at improving navigation safety, connectivity, and economic participation in northern Kenya.
Kenya cemented its regional leadership in green shipping by hosting the Green Shipping Conference in February 2025 in Mombasa. The event brought together governments, industry players, international partners, and academia to deliberate on decarbonization, sustainable maritime practices, and climate action.
Human capital development continues to be prioritized, with expanded training and certification programs through partnerships with Bandari Maritime Academy and institutions such as SIMAC (Denmark) and Regional Maritime University (Ghana).

The department also strengthened support for women in maritime through the WOMESA platform, enabling five women to benefit from training programs and international conferences last year.
Partnerships with global maritime firms, including A.P. Moller–Maersk, enabled 10 Kenyan cadets to secure placements aboard international vessels in 2025, with another 10 set to join this year.
Kenya has ratified 35 international maritime conventions, including MARPOL, SOLAS, UNCLOS, STCW, and the Maritime Labour Convention, reinforcing the country’s reputation as a responsible maritime state.
Several bilateral and multilateral agreements were signed with nations such as Saudi Arabia and Denmark, while MoUs with Singapore, the USA, UK, Japan, Norway, Israel, Korea, and Tanzania are awaiting final approval.
“Looking ahead, the State Department has set out a series of priorities for 2026, including: strengthening Kenya’s shipping and maritime sector as a strategic economic pillar, establishing an open ship registry by the end of the year, securing additional global deployment opportunities for Kenyan seafarers, advancing maritime spatial planning, fully operationalizing regional offices, strengthening maritime security and international cooperation and promoting climate resilient, environmentally sustainable shipping” said PS Millah.
The PS affirmed that Kenya’s maritime sector continues to play a vital role in trade, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
“As a strategically positioned maritime nation, Kenya’s waters are gateways to opportunity, sustainability, and global connectivity,” noted PS Millah.
He added that enhanced collaboration with KMA, the Kenya National Shipping Line, Bandari Maritime Academy, county governments, and international partners will further strengthen the nation’s capacity to deliver efficient, safe, secure, and sustainable maritime services.